title: Health Care Costs Associated With Parent-Reported ADHD: A Longitudinal Australian Population-Based Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the health care costs associated with ADHD within a nationally representative sample of children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from Waves 1 to 3 (4-9 years) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children ( N = 4,983). ADHD was defined by previous diagnosis and a measure of ADHD symptoms (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [SDQ]). Participant data were linked to administrative data on health care costs. Analyses controlled for demographic factors and internalizing and externalizing comorbidities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Costs associated with health care attendances and medications were higher for children with parent-reported ADHD at each age. Cost differences were highest at 8 to 9 years for both health care attendances and medications. Persistent symptoms were associated with higher costs ( p < .001). Excess population health care costs amounted to Aus$25 to Aus$30 million over 6 years, from 4 to 9 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADHD is associated with significant health care costs from early in life. Understanding the costs associated with ADHD is an important first step in helping to plan for service-system changes.
authors.affiliation: 1 Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|2 The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sciberras
authors.affiliation: 1 Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|3 Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.|4 Parenting Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: 1 Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|2 The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.|5 University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Efron
authors.affiliation: 1 Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|6 Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: 1 Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|2 The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.|5 University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hiscock
authors.affiliation: 1 Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.|4 Parenting Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011159:Population Surveillance
keywords: ADHD; children; costs; economic; health care; medication